06/07/2025
What digital media use does to your brain
"Brain rot" is a slang term describing the negative effects of excessive online content consumption, particularly on social media, on cognitive functions and mental health.
Recent studies in neuroscience support the idea that the commonly used term “brain rot” reflects real changes in brain function caused by excessive digital media use. A study by Shaheen E. Lakhan (2025) introduced the term digital anhedonia, which describes the reduced ability to enjoy real-life experiences due to overstimulation from social media. The study found that the brain's reward centers, such as the ventral striatum and amygdala, become overactive, while areas responsible for self-control, like the prefrontal cortex, become less active. This imbalance can lead to low motivation and difficulty focusing on tasks outside digital platforms.
In addition, a longitudinal study by Maza et al. (2023) found that habitual social media checking behaviors were associated with changes in adolescent brain development. Brain scans showed altered activity in areas related to emotion, reward, and decision-making, including accelerated thinning of the prefrontal cortex, which may result in reduced attention and impulse control.
Another study by Yan et al. (2024) demonstrated that short-form video use negatively affects attention functions. EEG results revealed that frequent exposure to mobile video content weakened sustained attention and cognitive focus. Similarly, Mark et al. (2008) found that frequent digital interruptions cause users to take significantly longer to return to a task, with an average recovery time of up to twenty-three minutes. These findings suggest that digital media overuse negatively affects attention span and cognitive control, especially in young people.
If our brains are being reshaped by the media we consume daily, how much of our attention, motivation, and emotional well-being are we unknowingly trading for convenience and entertainment?